Lubricating system



H. U. SPENCE.

L LUBRICATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 13', 1920.

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LUBRICATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED D-EC. 18, I920.

Patented Sept. 13,1921.

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- tems, and has the engine speed, or whether preciated the invention iii-in of Fig. 2. l

HENRY U. SPENCE, OF PAINESVILLE, OHIO.

LUBRICATING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY U. SPENon, a citizen of the United States, residin 'Painesville, in the county of Lake and tate of Uhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricating Systems, of which the following is a specification;

This invention pertains to lubricating systo do more particularly with the so-called splash systems employed for lubricating the cranks, and cylinders of automobile engines of the internal combustion type.

in systems where the splash action is depended upon to eilect lubrication it trequently occurs that some one or more of the cylinders and its allied parts will be over lubricated and that others will be under lubricated. lhis is not only incidental to the construction employed but is likewise due at times to the position of the machine when upon the road; thus when going down grade the oil is apt to over accumulate in the forward oil holding pocket (or pockets) and when going up grade such pockets may not receive sufficient oil. Over lubrication leads to fouled spark plugs and the deposition of carbon on the cylinder head due to the working of the oil past the piston rings.

The main object of the present invention is to overcome these difiiculties and to insure the proper quantity of oil being maintained in each pocket throughout the series and to so arrange the parts that an even flow of oil to each pocket will be had, this irrespective of the machine is traveling up or down grade, or whether it is running in a sidewise tilted position upon a crowned road. With this and further objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, reference will be had to the annexed drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, the same bein illustrated in connection with the housing 0 a Ford car-though aswill be apis of general app cation and may be utilized in connection with any number of cranks. V

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of an engine housing and under bonnet with the oil pan of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 a plan view of the pan.

Fi 3 a sectional view taken on the line and the pistons Specification of Letters Patent- Patqgntgd Sa nt, 13,, 1923, Application filed. December 18, 1920. Serial No. 431,633.

a a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 a transverse sectional view on the line 'V-V of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 a like view on the line Vii-VI.

Fig. 7 a-perspective view of one of the valves or gates employed to regulate the inflow of oil to the pockets of the pan.

Fig. 8 asimilar view showing the preterred formation of the floor and wall at one end of the opening leading to an oil holding pocket, and

Fig. 9 a sectional elevation of such floor and wall elements with the gate positioned with reference thereto.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the crank case and 2 the under bonnet having an opening in the bottom thereof below the cranks 3, a and 5, and connecting rods adapted to be closed by a pan about to be described. The fourth crank designated by 6 dips into. a

Fig.

depression '7 formed at the forward endof the magneto and fly wheel housing 8 which as will be understood is filled with oil to a greater or less extent, the oil being splashed about by the magneto and wheel.

The panfor closing the opening in the under bonnet 2 is designated generally by 9 and is-secured in place with machine screws 10 which pass through the rim or edge of the pan, through openings in the bonnet and into U-shaped clamping plates 11 and 12. The latter is preferably of the form best shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and is provided with two arched elements or sections 13 forming passages thereunder to prevent the holding back of the oil flow and the building up of the oil level in the pan. In other words the openings allow the oil to flow back into the magneto housing beneath the clamping element instead of over it and thus the oil level in the pan is reduced to that extent.

The pan is formed with three I 15 and 16 located in line with the cranks 3, 4: and 5, respectively, and inasmuch as the formation of the pockets and allied parts are the same a description of one will sufiice for all and the same reference numerals will be applied to each of them.

The oil for lubrication is circulated from the housing 8 into the forward end of the an 9 from which it flows back to the housmg. This being usual in the Ford machine, the means for accomplishing it is not shown in the drawings.

The bottom of the pan is formed upon two levels or planes designated respectively by 17 and 18, the upper level 17 merging into the lower one 18 through sloping walls 19, which lie at an angle to thelongitudinal axis of the pan.

Each pocket is provided with an upstanding surrounding wall '20 which rises above the bottom of the pan, and an oil inlet or opening 21 is formed therein at the forward side of the pocket. r

The inclined sloping wall 19 forward of the pocket extends toward the opening and merges into an inwardly inclined face 22 (see Figs. 8 and 9) formed adjacent the bottom of the wall 20 at one end (pf th; opening 21, the upper margn or e ge o the face terminating in a flat 23 which lies in a level slightly above the. upper level 17 of the pan bottom. The wall 20 at this end of the opening is provided with an inclined face 24, said face and the face 22 coiiperating with a gate 25 to regulate the inflow of oil from the pan to the pocket as will presently appear. f

The gate is of the form best shown in F ig. 7 and is secured upon the upper end of a rod 26 mounted for rotation in a bearing 27 (provided with a packing gland 27') formed in the pan bottom adjacent the end of opening 21. The stem or rod 26 is bent laterally forming a handle 28 provided with a tooth 29 adapted to co-act with a rack 30 formed on the bottom of the pan to hold the valve in its adjusted position.

Toy-pass or conduit 31 is formed under each pan adjacent that end where the gate is located so that the oil may flow freely from the forward end of the .pan to the rear thereof, suitable return deflecting walls 32, being provided at the outlet ends of the conduits (except at the last pocket 16) to cause the oil to flow across the lower pan level 18 toward the pocket opening 21 rather than to flow directly to the next by-pass.

A second series of conduits or by-passes 33 is provided at the opposite end of the pockets, said conduits coming into operation more particularly when the machine is tipyed sidewise when traveling on a crowned roa An upstanding wall 34 may be provided between the pockets 1st and 15 to prevent the oil being splashed from one pan into the other. Pans 15 and 16 being more widely spaced no Wall between them will be found necessary.

In operation the oil as above stated is passed from the magneto and fly-wheel housing 8 into the forward end of the pan and thence it travels rearwardly over the pan back to the housing. During such flow the pockets become filled to the desired extent, the inflow to each pocket being regulated by the gate to insure a supply equal to that nseaeea splashed out by the bearings, as they pass into and through the oil in the pockets.

This inflow may be nicely regulated by the gates. As the gate is swung toward its closed position it moves past the inclined face 22 and thus gradually narrows the space through which the oil may flow. As it is moved farther inward its end coacts with the inclined wall 24 and further gradually cuts down the oil inflow. Such inflow may be almost entirely out ofi' by a complete closure of the gate, its end at such time abutting the inner upstanding edge'of the face 2 1.

llnasmuch as pocket 14 is apt under the construction commonly employed to receive too much oil the gate therefor will be all but closed; gate for pocket 15 will be adjusted to be pocket 163Wlll be opened still farther, but this adjustment may be varied to suit each individual motor.

Once the gates are broughtv to their proper adjusted positions theymay remain so as the oil level in each pocket will be-maintained substantially constant under all conditions of operation. The rate at which the oil enters the forward end of the pan increases with the speed of'the motor,'and as the oil cannot flow through the by-passes and under the clamping plate'at 13, under such conditions at a suiiicient rate, its level outside the gates 25 quantity passes through them and into the pockets. At the same time the increased enand a by-pass located adjacent each pocket" for permitting the flow of oil from one end of the pan to the other.

2. In a splash lubricating system, the combination of the under bonnet of a crank case; a pan supported thereby and in which the oil is adapted to flow from one end to the other; a plurality of pockets formed therein in position to be entered by the connecting rods, each pocket having upstanding walls rising above the body of the pan with an oil inlet opening wall of each pan; a gate for each of said openings and means for independently regulating the position of each gate. ,3. in a splash lubricating system, the combinatlon of the under bonnet of a crank case; a pan supported thereby and in which open wider, while gate for is raised and a greater 7 formed in the forwardwith the under bonnet of a .and having upstanding the oil is adapted to flow from one end to the other; a plurality of pockets formed therein in position to be entered by the connecting rods, each pocket having an opening in its side wall; and means for regulating the flow of oil into the pockets through said openings as it passes along the pan.

4. In a lubricating system of the splash type, the combination of a pan over which the oil flows from one end to the other; a plurality of pockets formed in the pan in position to be entered by the connecting rods and to receive oil from the pan as it flows over the same; and means for maintaining the level of the oil in each of the pockets at a substantially constant level.

5. lin a lubricating system of the splash type, the combination of apan over which the oil flows from one end to the other; a plurality of pockets formed in the pan in position to be entered by the connecting rods (and to receive oil from the pan as it flows over the same; and means for regulating the amount of oil which may pass into each pocket and icy-passing the remainder past said pockets to the discharge end of the pan. 6. In a lubricating system of the splash type, the combination of a pan over which the oil is circulated from one end to the other; a series of pockets formed therein and having upstanding walls projecting above the pan bottom, the wall of each pocket having an opening therein for the entrance oi. Oll to the pocket; an adjustable gate for each opening; and means cooperating with the gates to secure a ready control of the inflow of oil past the same.

7. in a lubricating system of the splash type, the combination of a pan over which the oil is circulated from one end to the other; a series of pockets formed therein walls projecting above the pan bottom, the wall of each pocket having an opening therein for the entrance of oil to the pocket; an adjustable gate for each opening; means cooperating with the gates to secure a ready control of the inflow of oil past the same; and b passes for the oilextending around t e pockets.

8. In a type, the combination of a pan over which a the oil is circulated from one end to the I the base of said other; a series of pockets formed therein, each poclret having upstanding walls with ail opening in one side, the wall at one end of the opening being beveled or inclined; an outwardly projecting member located at edge, and provided with an outwardly inclined face; a gate adapted to cooperate with said member and the inclined end aforesaid; and means for controlling the position of 9. In a lubricating system of the splash type, the combination of a pan over which lubricating system of the splash the gate.

the oil flows, the upper face whereof is divided into two levels extending lengthwise of the pan; a plurality of pockets the flow; a series of pockets carried by the pan,',

each pocket having an opening in its side wall for the entrance ofoil; a gate for controlling said opening; ,a by-pass extending wall extending up from the pan adjacent the discharge ends of the by-passes other than the last one.

llblln a lubricating system of the splash type, the combination of the under bonnet of an engine housing, said bonnet havin an opening therein; a pan underlying the onnet; a clamping plate resting on the inner face of the bonnet, said plate having at least one arched member located adjacent the discharge curing the pan, said plate, and the bonnet together; and a plurality of pockets carried by the pan and into which the engine cranks may dip.

12. n a lubricating system of the splash type, the combination-of a pan over which the oil is caused to flow from one end to the other; a series of pockets carried thereby, each pocket having a gate controlled opening in line with the flow of oil; and a by-pass extendin around each end of each pocket.

13. n a lubricating system of the splash type, the combination of a pan over which the oil is caused to flow from one end to the other; a series of pockets carried thereby, each pocket having'a gate controlled opening in line with the {low of oil; a by-pass extending around each end of each pocket; and means for causing a deflection in the flow of oil passing from the by-passes toward the gate controlled opening in the next succeeding ocket.

14. In a ubricating system of the splash type, the combination of a pan over which the oil is caused to flow from one end to the other; a series of pockets carried thereby, the two pockets at the forward end of the pan being more closely spaced than the other; a rib or partition extending, upwardly from the pan between said pockets whereby the oil splashed-from one will be precluded from directly passmg over into the other; and means for controlling the regulation of the supply of oil passing into each pocket.

15'. In a lubricating system of the splash t pe, the combination of a pan over which t e oil is caused to end of the pan; means or seclosely spaced flow from one end'to the 7 around each pocket; and a return deflecting other; a series of poclrets carried thereby and into which the connecting rod dips; and means susceptible of manual adjustment from without the pan for maintaining the oil in each of the pockets at a'substantially constant level. I

16. In a lubricating system of the splash typefthe combination of a pan over which the oil flows from one end to the other; a plurality of pockets in the pan in position to be entered by the connecting rods of an engine, said pockets being substantially closed oil from the flow of oil in the pan except for an opening leading respectively from each of said pockets to the pan, said openings restricting and controlling the amount of oil which may enter each of said pockets; and a by-pass around each pocket. 7

17. In a splash lubricating system, the combination of an under bonnet of a crank case; apan supported thereby, over which pan, said openings restricting and controlling the amount of oil which may enter each pocket.

In testimony whereof I name to this specification.

HENRY U. SPENGEQ have signed my 

